"St. Louis De Montfort knew that Mary is the pathway to her Son, leading souls quickly and securely to Jesus Christ, the Eternal Wisdom. Inflamed with holy love St. Louis De Montfort wrote many poems to the Divine Wisdom, including the following fervent lines:
Divine Wisdom, I love Thee unto folly.
I am Thy lover.
Thou alone in this world I seek,
Thou alone I desire.
I am a man gone mad with love,
Forever chasing Thee.
Tell me who Thou art,
For I am half blind.
I can discern only
That Thou art a secret I must fathom.
Show Thyself fully to my soul
Which dies for love of Thee.
Where dost Thou live,
Wisdom Divine?
Must I cross continents or seas
To find Thee,
Or fly across the skies?
I am ready to go wherever Thou art,
Not counting the costs, to possess Thee."
2010/12/17
2010/10/01
Way of Divine Love
Words of Our Lord from The Way of Divine Love
of Sister Josefa Menéndez
“Never shall I weary of repentant sinners, nor cease from hoping for their return, and the greater their distress, the greater My welcome.” —Words of Our Lord (See p. 2)
“I want souls to have confidence in My mercy, to expect all from My clemency, and never to doubt My readiness to forgive.” —Words of Our Lord
INTRODUCTION
This booklet contains passages drawn from the Message entrusted by Our Lord to Sister Josefa Menéndez, coadjutrix sister of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Hidden in the silence of her convent “Les Feuillants” (Poitiers, France), this humble sister who had left her home in Spain to follow her vocation became the chosen instrument of Love. Jesus, His Heart on fire, revealed Himself to her, spoke to her, molded her as He pleased and gave her a share in His work of redemption. Then He entrusted His desires to her and asked her to transmit them to the world. The aim of this little book is to respond to that appeal by spreading the Message to the many faithful souls who have been chosen by Our Lord and are consecrated to Him. So, may they all accept and read the message; may they find in it light and strength for each day as it comes; may they become collaborators in this work of love; may they be fuel for the fire that Our Lord came to enkindle throughout the whole earth; and according to His desire may they form a chain of souls whose hearts will be more and more on fire with love, love that trusts and expects everything from Him, so that, aflame with this fire, they will communicate it to the whole world.
A CALL TO SOULS
“I am Love! My Heart can no longer contain its devouring flames. I love souls so dearly that I have sacrificed My life for them. “It is this love that keeps Me a prisoner in the tabernacle. For nearly twenty centuries I have dwelt there, night and day, veiled under the species of Bread and concealed in the small white Host, bearing through love, neglect, solitude, contempt, blasphemies, outrages, sacrileges . . .
“For love of souls, I instituted the Sacrament of Penance, that I might forgive them, not once or twice, but as often as they need it to recover grace. There I wait for them, longing to wash away their sins, not in water, but in My Blood. How often in the course of the ages have I, in one way or another, made known My love for men: I have shown them how ardently I desire their salvation. I have revealed My Heart to them. This devotion has been as light cast over the whole earth, and today by its means those who labor to gain souls to My service have been enabled to do so.
“Now, I want something more, for if I long for love in response to My own, this is not the only return I desire from souls: I want them all to have confidence in My mercy, to expect all from My clemency, and never to doubt My readiness to forgive. I am God, but a God of love! I am a Father, but a Father full of compassion and never harsh. My Heart is infinitely holy but also infinitely wise, and knowing human frailty and infirmity, stoops to poor sinners with infinite mercy. I love those who after a first fall come to Me for pardon . . . I love them still more when they beg pardon for their second sin, and should this happen again, I do not say a million times but a million million times, I still love them and pardon them, and I will wash in My Blood their last as fully as their first sin. Never shall I weary of repentant sinners, nor cease from hoping for their return, and the greater their distress, the greater My welcome. Does not a father love a sick child with special affection? Are not his care and solicitude greater? So is the tenderness and compassion of My Heart more abundant for sinners than for the just. This is what I wish all to know. I will teach sinners that the mercy of My Heart is inexhaustible. Let the callous and indifferent know that My Heart is a fire which will enkindle them, because I love them. To devout and saintly souls
I would be “The Way,” that making great strides in perfection, they may safely reach the harbor of eternal beatitude. Lastly, of consecrated souls, priests and religious, My elect and chosen ones, I ask, once more, all their love and that they should not doubt Mine, but above all that they should trust Me and never doubt My mercy. It is so easy to trust completely in My Heart.” (June 11, 1923).
“I will make it known that My work rests on nothingness and misery—such is the first link in the chain of love that I have prepared for souls from eternity. I will use you to show that I love misery, littleness and absolute nothingness. I will reveal to souls the excess of My love and how far I will go in forgiveness, and how even their faults will be used by Me with blind indulgence . . . yes, write . . . with blind indulgence. I see depths, the very depths of souls, I see how they fain would please, console and glorify Me, and the act of humility they are obliged to make when they see themselves so feeble, is solace and glory to My Heart. What does their helplessness matter? Cannot I supply all their deficiencies? I will show how My Heart uses their very weakness to give life to many souls that have lost it. I will make known that the measure of My love and mercy for fallen souls is limitless. I want to forgive them. It rests Me to forgive. I am ever there, waiting, with boundless love till souls come to Me. Let them come, nor be discouraged. Let them fearlessly throw themselves into My arms! I am their Father.
Many of My religious do not understand all they can do to draw those steeped in ignorance to My Heart. They do not know how I yearn to draw them to Myself and give them life . . . true life. Yes, Josefa, I will teach you the secrets of My love, and you will be a living example of My mercy, for if I have such love and predilection for you who are of no account whatever, what am I not ready to do for others more generous than you?” (August 6, 1922).
“Come . . . enter My Heart. How easy it is for a mere nothing to lose itself in that abyss of love. That is how I will consume your littleness and nothingness. I will act through you, speak through you, and make Myself known through you. How many will find life in My words! How many will take new courage as they understand the fruit to be drawn from their efforts! A little act of generosity, of patience, of poverty . . . may become treasure that will win a great number of souls to My Heart . . .” (August 7, 1922).
“I do not look at the act itself, I look at the intention. The smallest act, if done out of love, acquires such merit that it gives Me immense consolation . . . I want only love, I ask for nothing else.” (September 8, 1922).
“When a soul is generous enough to give Me all I ask, she gathers up treasure for herself and others and snatches great numbers of souls from perdition. It is by their sacrifices and their love that My chosen souls are deputed by My Heart to dispense My graces to mankind. The world is full of perils . . . How many poor souls are dragged towards sin and constantly need a visible or invisible help! Ah! let Me say it again, do My chosen souls know of what treasures they deprive themselves and others, when they are ungenerous? I do not say that by the fact of My choice, a soul is freed from her faults and wretchedness. That soul may and will fall often again, but if she humbles herself, if she recognizes her nothingness, if she tries to repair her faults by little acts of generosity and love, if she confides and surrenders herself once more to My Heart . . . she gives Me more glory and can do more good to other souls, than if she had never fallen. Miseries and weaknesses are of no consequence, what I do ask of them is love.
“Yes, in spite of its miseries, a soul can love Me to folly . . . But realize that I am speaking only of faults of frailty and inadvertence, not of willed sin or voluntary infidelity. Offer your life, imperfect as it is, that all My chosen souls may realize the beautiful mission that they can carry out through their ordinary actions and in their daily struggles. Let them never forget that I have preferred them to so many others, not because of their goodness, but because of their wretchedness . . . I am all love, and that flame in Me consumes all their weakness. I will again tell you the secrets of My Heart . . . But the desire which consumes Me is ever the same: It is that souls may know My Heart better and better.” (October 20, 1922).
“Write for My souls: The soul who constantly unites her life with Mine glorifies Me and does a great work for souls. Thus, if engaged in work of no value in itself . . . if she bathes it in My Blood or unites it to the work I Myself did during My mortal life, it will greatly profit souls . . . more perhaps, than if she had preached to the whole world . . . and that, whether she studies, speaks or writes . . . whether she sews, sweeps or rests . . . provided first that the act is sanctioned by obedience or duty and not done from mere caprice; secondly: that it is done in intimate union with Me, with great purity of intention and covered with My Blood.
“I so much want souls to understand this! It is not the action in itself that is of value; it is the intention with which it is done. When I swept and labored in the workshop of Nazareth, I gave as much glory to My Father as when I preached during My Public Life. There are many souls who in the eyes of the world fill important posts and they give My Heart great glory; this is true. But I have many hidden souls who in their humble labors are very useful workers in My vineyard, for they are moved by love, and they know how to cover their deeds with supernatural gold by bathing them in My Blood. My love goes so far that My souls can draw great treasure out of mere nothing. When as soon as they wake they unite themselves to Me and offer their whole day with a burning desire that My Heart may use it for the profit of souls.
. . when with love they perform their duties, hour by hour and moment by moment . . . How great is the treasure they amass in one day! I will reveal My love to them more and more . . . it is inexhaustible and how easy it is for a loving soul to let itself be guided by Love.” (November 30, 1922).
“Write for souls:
“My Heart is all love and it embraces all souls, but how can I make My chosen souls understand My special love for them and how I wish to use them to save sinners and so many souls who are exposed to the perils of the world? For this reason I would like them to know how much I desire their perfection, and that it consists in doing their ordinary actions in intimate union with Me. If they once grasped this, they could divinize their life and all their activities by this close union with My Heart . . . and how great is the value of a divinized day! When a soul is burnt up with desire to love, nothing is a burden to her, but if she feels cold and spiritless everything becomes hard and difficult . . . let her then come to My Heart to revive her courage . . . Let her offer Me her dejection, and unite it to My fervor; then she may rest content, for her day will be of incomparable value to souls. All human miseries are known to My Heart, and My compassion for them is great.
“But I desire souls to unite themselves to Me not only in a general way. I long for this union to be constant and intimate, as it is between friends who live together: for even if they are not talking all the time, at least they look at each other, and their mutual affectionate little kindnesses are the fruit of their love.
“When a soul is in peace and consolation, doubtless it is easier for her to think of Me, but if she is in the throes of desolation and anguish, she need not fear. I am content with a glance. I understand, and this mere look will draw down on her special proofs of My tenderness. I will repeat again to souls how My Heart loves them . . . for I want them to know Me thoroughly, that they may make Me known to those I place in their care. I ardently desire My chosen souls to fix their eyes on Me, and never turn them away . . . and among them there should be no mediocrity which usually is the result of a misunderstanding of My love. No! it is neither difficult nor hard to love My Heart, but on the contrary, it is sweet and easy. They need do nothing extraordinary to attain to a high degree of love: purity of intention, be the action great or small . . . intimate union with My Heart, and love will do the rest.” (December 2, 1922).
“Yes, I am that Jesus who loves souls tenderly . . . Behold this Heart that never ceases calling them, guarding them, and caring for them . . . Behold this Heart on fire with longing for their love, but especially for the love of My chosen ones.
“Write, write more for them:
“My Heart is not only an abyss of love, It is also an abyss of mercy; and knowing as I do that even My closest friends are not exempt from human frailties, I will take each of their actions, however insignificant, to be clothed through Me with immense value for the help of those in need and for the salvation of sinners. All cannot preach nor evangelize distant uncivilized peoples, but all, yes, all, can make My Heart known and loved . . . All can mutually help one another to increase the number of the saved by preventing the loss of many souls . . . and that, through My love and mercy. I will tell My chosen souls that My love for them goes further still; not only shall I make use of their daily life and of their least actions, but I will make use of their very wretchedness . . . their frailties . . . even of their falls for the salvation of souls. Love transforms and divinizes everything and mercy pardons all.” (December 5, 1922).
“. . . Write a few more words for My souls:
“Love transforms their most ordinary actions and gives them an infinite value, but it does more: My Heart loves My chosen souls so tenderly, that I wish to use their miseries, their weaknesses, and often even their faults. Souls that see themselves overwhelmed with miseries, attribute nothing good to themselves, and their very abjectness clothes them with a certain humility that they would not have if they saw themselves to be less imperfect. When therefore in the course of apostolic work or in the carrying out of duties, a consciousness of their incapacity is forced upon them . . . or when they experience a kind of repugnance to helping souls towards perfection to which they know themselves to be still strangers, such souls are compelled to humble themselves in the dust, and should this self-knowledge impel them to My feet, asking pardon for their halting efforts, begging of My Heart the strength and courage they need, it is hardly possible for them to conceive how lovingly My Heart goes out to them and how marvellously fruitful I will make their labors. Those whose generosity is not equal to these daily endeavors and sacrifices will see their lives go by full only of promise which never comes to fruition.
“But in this, distinguish: to souls who habitually promise and yet do no violence to themselves nor prove their abnegation and love in any way I say: ‘Beware lest all this straw and stubble which you have gathered into your barns take fire or be scattered in an instant by the wind!’ But there are others, and it is of them I now speak, who begin their day with a very good will and desire to prove their love. They pledge themselves to self-denial or generosity in this or that circumstance . . . But when the time comes they are prevented by self-love, temperament, health, or I know not what, from carrying out what a few hours before they quite sincerely purposed to do. Nevertheless they speedily acknowledge their weakness and, filled with shame, beg for pardon, humble themselves, and renew their promise . . . Ah! Let them know that these souls please Me as much as if they had nothing with which to reproach themselves.” (December 12, 1922).
2. Our Lord here establishes a very clear distinction between habitual venial faults, unresisted and consented to, and faults of frailty that are repaired. He explains that the willed reparation gives Him more comfort than the fault of frailty gave Him displeasure. In fact, the humility, confidence and generosity implied in an act of reparation presuppose awareness and complete consent of the will; a condition only partially fulfilled in the fault of frailty.
“I want to forgive. I want to reign over souls and pardon all nations. I want to rule souls, nations, the whole world. My peace must be extended over the entire universe, but in a special way over this dear country [France] where devotion to My Heart first took root . . . O that I might be its peace, its life, its King. I am Wisdom and Beatitude! I am Love and Mercy! I am Peace, I shall reign! I will shower My mercies on the world to wipe out its ingratitude. To make reparation for its crimes, I will choose victims who will obtain pardon . . . for there are in the world many whose desire is to please Me . . . and there are moreover generous souls who will sacrifice everything they possess, that I may use them according to My will and good pleasure. My reign will be one of peace and love and I shall inaugurate it by compassion on all: such is the end I have in view, and this is the great work of My love.
“My appeal is addressed to all: to those consecrated in religion and those living in the world, to the good and to sinners, to the learned and the illiterate, to those in authority and to those who obey. To each of them I come to say: if you seek happiness you will find it in Me. If riches, I am infinite wealth. If you desire peace, in Me alone is peace found. I am Mercy and Love! and I must be sovereign King.
Taken from A Call to Souls by TAN Books & Publishers, Inc.
of Sister Josefa Menéndez
“Never shall I weary of repentant sinners, nor cease from hoping for their return, and the greater their distress, the greater My welcome.” —Words of Our Lord (See p. 2)
“I want souls to have confidence in My mercy, to expect all from My clemency, and never to doubt My readiness to forgive.” —Words of Our Lord
INTRODUCTION
This booklet contains passages drawn from the Message entrusted by Our Lord to Sister Josefa Menéndez, coadjutrix sister of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Hidden in the silence of her convent “Les Feuillants” (Poitiers, France), this humble sister who had left her home in Spain to follow her vocation became the chosen instrument of Love. Jesus, His Heart on fire, revealed Himself to her, spoke to her, molded her as He pleased and gave her a share in His work of redemption. Then He entrusted His desires to her and asked her to transmit them to the world. The aim of this little book is to respond to that appeal by spreading the Message to the many faithful souls who have been chosen by Our Lord and are consecrated to Him. So, may they all accept and read the message; may they find in it light and strength for each day as it comes; may they become collaborators in this work of love; may they be fuel for the fire that Our Lord came to enkindle throughout the whole earth; and according to His desire may they form a chain of souls whose hearts will be more and more on fire with love, love that trusts and expects everything from Him, so that, aflame with this fire, they will communicate it to the whole world.
A CALL TO SOULS
“I am Love! My Heart can no longer contain its devouring flames. I love souls so dearly that I have sacrificed My life for them. “It is this love that keeps Me a prisoner in the tabernacle. For nearly twenty centuries I have dwelt there, night and day, veiled under the species of Bread and concealed in the small white Host, bearing through love, neglect, solitude, contempt, blasphemies, outrages, sacrileges . . .
“For love of souls, I instituted the Sacrament of Penance, that I might forgive them, not once or twice, but as often as they need it to recover grace. There I wait for them, longing to wash away their sins, not in water, but in My Blood. How often in the course of the ages have I, in one way or another, made known My love for men: I have shown them how ardently I desire their salvation. I have revealed My Heart to them. This devotion has been as light cast over the whole earth, and today by its means those who labor to gain souls to My service have been enabled to do so.
“Now, I want something more, for if I long for love in response to My own, this is not the only return I desire from souls: I want them all to have confidence in My mercy, to expect all from My clemency, and never to doubt My readiness to forgive. I am God, but a God of love! I am a Father, but a Father full of compassion and never harsh. My Heart is infinitely holy but also infinitely wise, and knowing human frailty and infirmity, stoops to poor sinners with infinite mercy. I love those who after a first fall come to Me for pardon . . . I love them still more when they beg pardon for their second sin, and should this happen again, I do not say a million times but a million million times, I still love them and pardon them, and I will wash in My Blood their last as fully as their first sin. Never shall I weary of repentant sinners, nor cease from hoping for their return, and the greater their distress, the greater My welcome. Does not a father love a sick child with special affection? Are not his care and solicitude greater? So is the tenderness and compassion of My Heart more abundant for sinners than for the just. This is what I wish all to know. I will teach sinners that the mercy of My Heart is inexhaustible. Let the callous and indifferent know that My Heart is a fire which will enkindle them, because I love them. To devout and saintly souls
I would be “The Way,” that making great strides in perfection, they may safely reach the harbor of eternal beatitude. Lastly, of consecrated souls, priests and religious, My elect and chosen ones, I ask, once more, all their love and that they should not doubt Mine, but above all that they should trust Me and never doubt My mercy. It is so easy to trust completely in My Heart.” (June 11, 1923).
“I will make it known that My work rests on nothingness and misery—such is the first link in the chain of love that I have prepared for souls from eternity. I will use you to show that I love misery, littleness and absolute nothingness. I will reveal to souls the excess of My love and how far I will go in forgiveness, and how even their faults will be used by Me with blind indulgence . . . yes, write . . . with blind indulgence. I see depths, the very depths of souls, I see how they fain would please, console and glorify Me, and the act of humility they are obliged to make when they see themselves so feeble, is solace and glory to My Heart. What does their helplessness matter? Cannot I supply all their deficiencies? I will show how My Heart uses their very weakness to give life to many souls that have lost it. I will make known that the measure of My love and mercy for fallen souls is limitless. I want to forgive them. It rests Me to forgive. I am ever there, waiting, with boundless love till souls come to Me. Let them come, nor be discouraged. Let them fearlessly throw themselves into My arms! I am their Father.
Many of My religious do not understand all they can do to draw those steeped in ignorance to My Heart. They do not know how I yearn to draw them to Myself and give them life . . . true life. Yes, Josefa, I will teach you the secrets of My love, and you will be a living example of My mercy, for if I have such love and predilection for you who are of no account whatever, what am I not ready to do for others more generous than you?” (August 6, 1922).
“Come . . . enter My Heart. How easy it is for a mere nothing to lose itself in that abyss of love. That is how I will consume your littleness and nothingness. I will act through you, speak through you, and make Myself known through you. How many will find life in My words! How many will take new courage as they understand the fruit to be drawn from their efforts! A little act of generosity, of patience, of poverty . . . may become treasure that will win a great number of souls to My Heart . . .” (August 7, 1922).
“I do not look at the act itself, I look at the intention. The smallest act, if done out of love, acquires such merit that it gives Me immense consolation . . . I want only love, I ask for nothing else.” (September 8, 1922).
“When a soul is generous enough to give Me all I ask, she gathers up treasure for herself and others and snatches great numbers of souls from perdition. It is by their sacrifices and their love that My chosen souls are deputed by My Heart to dispense My graces to mankind. The world is full of perils . . . How many poor souls are dragged towards sin and constantly need a visible or invisible help! Ah! let Me say it again, do My chosen souls know of what treasures they deprive themselves and others, when they are ungenerous? I do not say that by the fact of My choice, a soul is freed from her faults and wretchedness. That soul may and will fall often again, but if she humbles herself, if she recognizes her nothingness, if she tries to repair her faults by little acts of generosity and love, if she confides and surrenders herself once more to My Heart . . . she gives Me more glory and can do more good to other souls, than if she had never fallen. Miseries and weaknesses are of no consequence, what I do ask of them is love.
“Yes, in spite of its miseries, a soul can love Me to folly . . . But realize that I am speaking only of faults of frailty and inadvertence, not of willed sin or voluntary infidelity. Offer your life, imperfect as it is, that all My chosen souls may realize the beautiful mission that they can carry out through their ordinary actions and in their daily struggles. Let them never forget that I have preferred them to so many others, not because of their goodness, but because of their wretchedness . . . I am all love, and that flame in Me consumes all their weakness. I will again tell you the secrets of My Heart . . . But the desire which consumes Me is ever the same: It is that souls may know My Heart better and better.” (October 20, 1922).
“Write for My souls: The soul who constantly unites her life with Mine glorifies Me and does a great work for souls. Thus, if engaged in work of no value in itself . . . if she bathes it in My Blood or unites it to the work I Myself did during My mortal life, it will greatly profit souls . . . more perhaps, than if she had preached to the whole world . . . and that, whether she studies, speaks or writes . . . whether she sews, sweeps or rests . . . provided first that the act is sanctioned by obedience or duty and not done from mere caprice; secondly: that it is done in intimate union with Me, with great purity of intention and covered with My Blood.
“I so much want souls to understand this! It is not the action in itself that is of value; it is the intention with which it is done. When I swept and labored in the workshop of Nazareth, I gave as much glory to My Father as when I preached during My Public Life. There are many souls who in the eyes of the world fill important posts and they give My Heart great glory; this is true. But I have many hidden souls who in their humble labors are very useful workers in My vineyard, for they are moved by love, and they know how to cover their deeds with supernatural gold by bathing them in My Blood. My love goes so far that My souls can draw great treasure out of mere nothing. When as soon as they wake they unite themselves to Me and offer their whole day with a burning desire that My Heart may use it for the profit of souls.
. . when with love they perform their duties, hour by hour and moment by moment . . . How great is the treasure they amass in one day! I will reveal My love to them more and more . . . it is inexhaustible and how easy it is for a loving soul to let itself be guided by Love.” (November 30, 1922).
“Write for souls:
“My Heart is all love and it embraces all souls, but how can I make My chosen souls understand My special love for them and how I wish to use them to save sinners and so many souls who are exposed to the perils of the world? For this reason I would like them to know how much I desire their perfection, and that it consists in doing their ordinary actions in intimate union with Me. If they once grasped this, they could divinize their life and all their activities by this close union with My Heart . . . and how great is the value of a divinized day! When a soul is burnt up with desire to love, nothing is a burden to her, but if she feels cold and spiritless everything becomes hard and difficult . . . let her then come to My Heart to revive her courage . . . Let her offer Me her dejection, and unite it to My fervor; then she may rest content, for her day will be of incomparable value to souls. All human miseries are known to My Heart, and My compassion for them is great.
“But I desire souls to unite themselves to Me not only in a general way. I long for this union to be constant and intimate, as it is between friends who live together: for even if they are not talking all the time, at least they look at each other, and their mutual affectionate little kindnesses are the fruit of their love.
“When a soul is in peace and consolation, doubtless it is easier for her to think of Me, but if she is in the throes of desolation and anguish, she need not fear. I am content with a glance. I understand, and this mere look will draw down on her special proofs of My tenderness. I will repeat again to souls how My Heart loves them . . . for I want them to know Me thoroughly, that they may make Me known to those I place in their care. I ardently desire My chosen souls to fix their eyes on Me, and never turn them away . . . and among them there should be no mediocrity which usually is the result of a misunderstanding of My love. No! it is neither difficult nor hard to love My Heart, but on the contrary, it is sweet and easy. They need do nothing extraordinary to attain to a high degree of love: purity of intention, be the action great or small . . . intimate union with My Heart, and love will do the rest.” (December 2, 1922).
“Yes, I am that Jesus who loves souls tenderly . . . Behold this Heart that never ceases calling them, guarding them, and caring for them . . . Behold this Heart on fire with longing for their love, but especially for the love of My chosen ones.
“Write, write more for them:
“My Heart is not only an abyss of love, It is also an abyss of mercy; and knowing as I do that even My closest friends are not exempt from human frailties, I will take each of their actions, however insignificant, to be clothed through Me with immense value for the help of those in need and for the salvation of sinners. All cannot preach nor evangelize distant uncivilized peoples, but all, yes, all, can make My Heart known and loved . . . All can mutually help one another to increase the number of the saved by preventing the loss of many souls . . . and that, through My love and mercy. I will tell My chosen souls that My love for them goes further still; not only shall I make use of their daily life and of their least actions, but I will make use of their very wretchedness . . . their frailties . . . even of their falls for the salvation of souls. Love transforms and divinizes everything and mercy pardons all.” (December 5, 1922).
“. . . Write a few more words for My souls:
“Love transforms their most ordinary actions and gives them an infinite value, but it does more: My Heart loves My chosen souls so tenderly, that I wish to use their miseries, their weaknesses, and often even their faults. Souls that see themselves overwhelmed with miseries, attribute nothing good to themselves, and their very abjectness clothes them with a certain humility that they would not have if they saw themselves to be less imperfect. When therefore in the course of apostolic work or in the carrying out of duties, a consciousness of their incapacity is forced upon them . . . or when they experience a kind of repugnance to helping souls towards perfection to which they know themselves to be still strangers, such souls are compelled to humble themselves in the dust, and should this self-knowledge impel them to My feet, asking pardon for their halting efforts, begging of My Heart the strength and courage they need, it is hardly possible for them to conceive how lovingly My Heart goes out to them and how marvellously fruitful I will make their labors. Those whose generosity is not equal to these daily endeavors and sacrifices will see their lives go by full only of promise which never comes to fruition.
“But in this, distinguish: to souls who habitually promise and yet do no violence to themselves nor prove their abnegation and love in any way I say: ‘Beware lest all this straw and stubble which you have gathered into your barns take fire or be scattered in an instant by the wind!’ But there are others, and it is of them I now speak, who begin their day with a very good will and desire to prove their love. They pledge themselves to self-denial or generosity in this or that circumstance . . . But when the time comes they are prevented by self-love, temperament, health, or I know not what, from carrying out what a few hours before they quite sincerely purposed to do. Nevertheless they speedily acknowledge their weakness and, filled with shame, beg for pardon, humble themselves, and renew their promise . . . Ah! Let them know that these souls please Me as much as if they had nothing with which to reproach themselves.” (December 12, 1922).
2. Our Lord here establishes a very clear distinction between habitual venial faults, unresisted and consented to, and faults of frailty that are repaired. He explains that the willed reparation gives Him more comfort than the fault of frailty gave Him displeasure. In fact, the humility, confidence and generosity implied in an act of reparation presuppose awareness and complete consent of the will; a condition only partially fulfilled in the fault of frailty.
“I want to forgive. I want to reign over souls and pardon all nations. I want to rule souls, nations, the whole world. My peace must be extended over the entire universe, but in a special way over this dear country [France] where devotion to My Heart first took root . . . O that I might be its peace, its life, its King. I am Wisdom and Beatitude! I am Love and Mercy! I am Peace, I shall reign! I will shower My mercies on the world to wipe out its ingratitude. To make reparation for its crimes, I will choose victims who will obtain pardon . . . for there are in the world many whose desire is to please Me . . . and there are moreover generous souls who will sacrifice everything they possess, that I may use them according to My will and good pleasure. My reign will be one of peace and love and I shall inaugurate it by compassion on all: such is the end I have in view, and this is the great work of My love.
“My appeal is addressed to all: to those consecrated in religion and those living in the world, to the good and to sinners, to the learned and the illiterate, to those in authority and to those who obey. To each of them I come to say: if you seek happiness you will find it in Me. If riches, I am infinite wealth. If you desire peace, in Me alone is peace found. I am Mercy and Love! and I must be sovereign King.
Taken from A Call to Souls by TAN Books & Publishers, Inc.
2010/06/10
solitude
I love the idea of just being alone with Jesus. One of the most beautiful things about religious life that I can think of is the intimacy with Him... to belong to no one else, except Him, who is the Lover of each soul. It's so easy for me to forget what He has done... how He carried the heavy Cross for love of me, was scourged for love of me, His blood ran down His face as they pressed the crown of thorns over His head.. He was crucified for love of me.. and now, He's the Prisoner of love in the Tabernacle, left all alone, and so few think of Him! I can't stand my ingratitude and distrust, - as Jesus offers me love, all I can offer Him are my errors and sins.. I'll never be able to love Him as much as He deserves, but I want to be able to love Him with all my heart. I can't seem to let go of myself.. of my own will.. but Jesus went through so much. I just want to be entirely His.. He has captured my heart so deeply and I can't ever see myself getting married to anyone else unless it is His will for me to marry and have a family. I can't talk about this to many people but even when I do talk about it, I can't seem to describe it well. Only He knows the part I can't put into words. But it's so beautiful to keep some things secret for Jesus :) my Jesus, I love You, always, always.
"O take my heart, Thou Loved One; let it be transfixed with those dear wounds for love of Thee. O wound it, Jesus, with pure love of Thee, and let it so be crucified with Thee that it may be forever joined to Thee." St. Bernard
learning to trust
It's been a difficult two weeks. I've been attacked with so much fear about my salvation, and so many doubts, several times the devil wanted me to give up altogether. I couldn't figure out if these fears reflect reality, or are lies. I had so much difficulty trusting God. I still feel so weak... today, I don't know what happened but Jesus gave me peace. Jesus I need You so much! If only I could receive You in the Eucharist... and I know that there's nothing You can't heal, that if I only receive You, the truth would be more apparent.. I've been suffering in this way because I dont know if I'm doing Your will. Lord I just pray that no matter what may happen in my life that Your will alone would be done! It doesn't matter so much if I should suffer, it's just this uncertainty and fear, that is the worst.. when I look at my soul I'm so fearful because of all my sins and because I don't understand where I am spiritually. I don't understand if I'm in a state of grace or not, I can't tell if I'm following You truly right now... but can I just look at You.. I just want to stay by the Tabernacle and be close to You, and whatever is wrong in my heart, You can change it. Why am I still afraid when I think of You? You are so much more powerful than any of my sins. I still have that dream of being Your bride and being a nun. I feel so broken right now that I can't really see how this could ever happen. But then I feel joy whenever I think about it. My Jesus please stay with me now, don't turn away from me, despite all the ways I've failed You. I need You now and always and especially when I'm under all these attacks. I just want to be alone with You, but I need You to heal me so I can receive Your love. Despite my sins, my inability, weakness, and fear, - I still have this desire for You and that is enough evidence that You are in my heart. St Padre Pio said, if a soul has the desire for God, that means God is there. I'm such a little soul, entirely incapable, but You alone are strong, You are my Savior, and You know all things!
2010/06/01
reparation
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners.
all that I want
"Therese, I have found our desert place. A beautiful desert, filled with roses. Jesus waits for me. And all I want is to be alone with Him." Story of a Soul
"Not only He loves you, even more - He longs for you. He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don't feel worthy. Even if you are not accepted by others, even by yourself sometimes - He is the one who always accepts you. My children, you don't have to be different for Jesus to love you. Only believe - you are precious to Him. Bring all you are suffering to His feet - only open your heart to be loved by Him as you are. He will do the rest." Mother Teresa
"Not only He loves you, even more - He longs for you. He misses you when you don't come close. He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don't feel worthy. Even if you are not accepted by others, even by yourself sometimes - He is the one who always accepts you. My children, you don't have to be different for Jesus to love you. Only believe - you are precious to Him. Bring all you are suffering to His feet - only open your heart to be loved by Him as you are. He will do the rest." Mother Teresa
2010/03/08
never more than we can handle.
i'm supposed to be doing homework.. but i'm sitting here in the library slowly coming to the realization that this has not been a good month. i don't entirely understand why God allows us to go through difficulties, and why He chose this time and not another time, and most of all why everything seems to happen at once. family, school, the future, all seems to be at an all time low.
even spiritually, it has been one trial after another. trusting God and loving Him, which came easily before, is now a constant struggle. i feel that if i don't constantly force myself to resist sin, believe, etc, it would all fall apart. God has been teaching me the importance of faith and courage, of a constant decision to follow Him... but it is very difficult sometimes to let go and rely on His strength. i just keep on repeating, "i will not sin anymore" or "i choose to believe."
i know God is with me always but i don't feel Him there. i want to believe in His love but it's a blind faith. i have not been able to receive the Eucharist for a while because whenever i go to Confession, the devil starts tempting me with horrible thoughts and it takes all my effort to not give in to them, but in my weakness, i give in. i don't know how to escape from this... i miss the Eucharist so much. and i'm fearing for my salvation, though i know i should be trusting in God because HE IS BIGGER THAN ALL THIS.
i don't know why He is allowing me to feel so broken and weak.. why everything in my life is going wrong at the moment. i know blessed are those who have not seen yet believed, but i wish i could see Him just for a second and know there's nothing in this world that can overcome His love.
but sometimes we have to simply make a choice. our wills remain free... a gift from our Father who wants us to learn to love like He loves. i could sin, but i choose not to. i could despair, but i choose not to.
there are two ways to look at our lives.. one is from a worldly perspective, and the other from an eternal perspective. to the world, - i'm a student who's graduating with mostly mediocre grades with no career prospects, and unlikely to get into the programs that i've applied to for next year. my family is falling apart. i have a 30 thousand dollar loan. i don't know what to do with my life and feel lost and worried whenever i remember about the future. i don't know what my vocation is. i don't know where i am spiritually or if i'll even make it to Heaven. my sins overwhelm me at every moment.
but "true greatness is in loving God and in humility". i could look at myself... i could look at the world... but Jesus is standing right in front of me with open arms, and i can't escape Him, because nothing could separate me from His love. and just as He said 10 years ago, He says now: "you are My child. I love you dearly." i could lose faith, but i choose to hold on. my Jesus, hold on to me. there is nothing in the world i want more than You.
even spiritually, it has been one trial after another. trusting God and loving Him, which came easily before, is now a constant struggle. i feel that if i don't constantly force myself to resist sin, believe, etc, it would all fall apart. God has been teaching me the importance of faith and courage, of a constant decision to follow Him... but it is very difficult sometimes to let go and rely on His strength. i just keep on repeating, "i will not sin anymore" or "i choose to believe."
i know God is with me always but i don't feel Him there. i want to believe in His love but it's a blind faith. i have not been able to receive the Eucharist for a while because whenever i go to Confession, the devil starts tempting me with horrible thoughts and it takes all my effort to not give in to them, but in my weakness, i give in. i don't know how to escape from this... i miss the Eucharist so much. and i'm fearing for my salvation, though i know i should be trusting in God because HE IS BIGGER THAN ALL THIS.
i don't know why He is allowing me to feel so broken and weak.. why everything in my life is going wrong at the moment. i know blessed are those who have not seen yet believed, but i wish i could see Him just for a second and know there's nothing in this world that can overcome His love.
but sometimes we have to simply make a choice. our wills remain free... a gift from our Father who wants us to learn to love like He loves. i could sin, but i choose not to. i could despair, but i choose not to.
there are two ways to look at our lives.. one is from a worldly perspective, and the other from an eternal perspective. to the world, - i'm a student who's graduating with mostly mediocre grades with no career prospects, and unlikely to get into the programs that i've applied to for next year. my family is falling apart. i have a 30 thousand dollar loan. i don't know what to do with my life and feel lost and worried whenever i remember about the future. i don't know what my vocation is. i don't know where i am spiritually or if i'll even make it to Heaven. my sins overwhelm me at every moment.
but "true greatness is in loving God and in humility". i could look at myself... i could look at the world... but Jesus is standing right in front of me with open arms, and i can't escape Him, because nothing could separate me from His love. and just as He said 10 years ago, He says now: "you are My child. I love you dearly." i could lose faith, but i choose to hold on. my Jesus, hold on to me. there is nothing in the world i want more than You.
2009/09/08
thoughts on being a 'little flower'
I just read this article about humility and the teachings of St Therese..
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=34381
it really made me think..
I love the last 3 paragraphs especially...
"It’s actually a relief to know that I am not fooling God. He knows this fearful, perverted “humility” lives in my heart, preventing me from realizing the peace of true humility. He will take care of it if I let Him; even in this I have to let go, trust Him to keep His word and wait. My progress toward holiness follows my cooperation, not my command. It will not be accomplished on my schedule; I cannot rush or cajole Him into action. Learning to wait is part of learning humility. I have no one to impress – I only have One to love.
St. Therese helps me understand, “the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy…if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.” (Story of a Soul)
A heart that is humble rests confidently in His mercy and love, and has no fear of being little or unnoticed, nor any need for adulation. He may be walking with the red rose in His hand, smelling its sweet fragrance, but He will also lie down on the grass that is covered in a bed of small wildflowers, and He will rest His head on their simple beauty, enjoying their soft comfort. I can think of nothing sweeter than to be that wild flower that’s pressed close to His heart as He lies down to rest. That is all my soul really longs for."
Neither can I..
That is beautiful and that is the one important thing there is.. to seek to please Jesus and to live for Him in whichever way He chooses.
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=34381
it really made me think..
I love the last 3 paragraphs especially...
"It’s actually a relief to know that I am not fooling God. He knows this fearful, perverted “humility” lives in my heart, preventing me from realizing the peace of true humility. He will take care of it if I let Him; even in this I have to let go, trust Him to keep His word and wait. My progress toward holiness follows my cooperation, not my command. It will not be accomplished on my schedule; I cannot rush or cajole Him into action. Learning to wait is part of learning humility. I have no one to impress – I only have One to love.
St. Therese helps me understand, “the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy…if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.” (Story of a Soul)
A heart that is humble rests confidently in His mercy and love, and has no fear of being little or unnoticed, nor any need for adulation. He may be walking with the red rose in His hand, smelling its sweet fragrance, but He will also lie down on the grass that is covered in a bed of small wildflowers, and He will rest His head on their simple beauty, enjoying their soft comfort. I can think of nothing sweeter than to be that wild flower that’s pressed close to His heart as He lies down to rest. That is all my soul really longs for."
Neither can I..
That is beautiful and that is the one important thing there is.. to seek to please Jesus and to live for Him in whichever way He chooses.
2009/09/02
prayer of a soul that longs for God
my God, where are You?
tell me how to find You..
i will go to the ends of the world
i will do anything You ask.
my heart is restless without You
the enemy tells me, 'all is well', -
and i find myself falling asleep..
but i know my soul needs You
i long for You, my God,
- can i still call You my Beloved?
i feel a silence inside; a stillness...
but no whisper of Your voice.
my soul is like a still lake in darkness.
no wind, no movement stirs it
where are You, Holy Spirit, river of Life?
have i offended You so that You left me?
my Lord, i beg You to not leave me
my heart longs for union with You
but i am unworthy
against You alone have i sinned
the Saints say...
when a soul feels rejected
that is when God is nearest.
could it be?
in Your mercy i will take refuge
Lord, oh Lord do not turn Your face from me
i want to look into Your eyes
Jesus i wish i could feel Your embrace
but if that is for greater souls -
Jesus then let me suffer with You.
i will be as gold
purified in the fire of Your love
God desires to make you a saint; and He refuses to remove you from your circumstances to do so. - Jose Maria Escriva
tell me how to find You..
i will go to the ends of the world
i will do anything You ask.
my heart is restless without You
the enemy tells me, 'all is well', -
and i find myself falling asleep..
but i know my soul needs You
i long for You, my God,
- can i still call You my Beloved?
i feel a silence inside; a stillness...
but no whisper of Your voice.
my soul is like a still lake in darkness.
no wind, no movement stirs it
where are You, Holy Spirit, river of Life?
have i offended You so that You left me?
my Lord, i beg You to not leave me
my heart longs for union with You
but i am unworthy
against You alone have i sinned
the Saints say...
when a soul feels rejected
that is when God is nearest.
could it be?
in Your mercy i will take refuge
Lord, oh Lord do not turn Your face from me
i want to look into Your eyes
Jesus i wish i could feel Your embrace
but if that is for greater souls -
Jesus then let me suffer with You.
i will be as gold
purified in the fire of Your love
God desires to make you a saint; and He refuses to remove you from your circumstances to do so. - Jose Maria Escriva
2009/09/01
Christ's suffering
I think it's so important to think about the suffering of Our Lord. I've been feeling lately like I should do this more.
It's almost unbelievable that God would let Himself be killed by His own creation. and not only killed, but also treated with so much mockery, hatred, disrespect... it must have been unimaginably painful...not only His physical suffering, but emotional and spiritual as well. I think the more a person loves, the more they're able to suffer for that love. If Jesus loves us infinitely, imagine what His sufferings must have been! and the suffering of Our Blessed Mother too, as she stood by His side, because she loves Him so much!
I've wondered, why did Jesus have to endure so much...why did He have to die so painfully? and then I was praying the Rosary and I read the reflections for the Sorrowful Mysteries in my booklet... and it said, He wore the crown of thorns because of our pride.. He was scourged because of impurity.. in everything that happened, He offered reparation to the Father. And that's when I realized, He suffered so much because His love is so great and because the sin of the world - our sin - is so great. If there had been no impurity, for example, He might not have had to be scourged. And just that knowledge, that sin - my sin - caused all this, ...wow.. I just don't understand though, how through all that He loved us! Even though it was our sin that was causing Him all this suffering, even that didn't make Him bitter or angry. He only prayed.."Father, forgive them.."
and now too, when we repent, Jesus accepts us so readily and unconditionally... He is so glad we've come back to Him, even though we caused Him such pain. I think that is what true love is..
and then I think of all the ways He is still offended today.... people stealing the consecrated Hosts and destroying them.. so much distrust, unbelief, hatred, etc.. and then I look at my sins, and I really don't understand, how could He still love me like this? how could His love be so unconditional? and my heart is so poor and what can I offer Him that's of value..but how can anyone not love Him, seeing His suffering?
It's almost unbelievable that God would let Himself be killed by His own creation. and not only killed, but also treated with so much mockery, hatred, disrespect... it must have been unimaginably painful...not only His physical suffering, but emotional and spiritual as well. I think the more a person loves, the more they're able to suffer for that love. If Jesus loves us infinitely, imagine what His sufferings must have been! and the suffering of Our Blessed Mother too, as she stood by His side, because she loves Him so much!
I've wondered, why did Jesus have to endure so much...why did He have to die so painfully? and then I was praying the Rosary and I read the reflections for the Sorrowful Mysteries in my booklet... and it said, He wore the crown of thorns because of our pride.. He was scourged because of impurity.. in everything that happened, He offered reparation to the Father. And that's when I realized, He suffered so much because His love is so great and because the sin of the world - our sin - is so great. If there had been no impurity, for example, He might not have had to be scourged. And just that knowledge, that sin - my sin - caused all this, ...wow.. I just don't understand though, how through all that He loved us! Even though it was our sin that was causing Him all this suffering, even that didn't make Him bitter or angry. He only prayed.."Father, forgive them.."
and now too, when we repent, Jesus accepts us so readily and unconditionally... He is so glad we've come back to Him, even though we caused Him such pain. I think that is what true love is..
and then I think of all the ways He is still offended today.... people stealing the consecrated Hosts and destroying them.. so much distrust, unbelief, hatred, etc.. and then I look at my sins, and I really don't understand, how could He still love me like this? how could His love be so unconditional? and my heart is so poor and what can I offer Him that's of value..but how can anyone not love Him, seeing His suffering?
2009/08/29
Jesus' words to St Gemma
"Jesus once said to me: "Do you know, daughter, for what reason I send crosses to souls dear to me? I desire to possess their souls, entirely, and for this I surround them with crosses, and I enclose them in sufferings and tribulation, that they may not escape from my hands; and for this I scatter thorns, that souls may fasten their affections upon no one, but find all con*tent in Me alone. My daughter, if you do not feel the cross it cannot be called a cross. Be sure that under the cross you will not be lost. The demon has no strength against those souls who for My love groan under the cross. 0 My daughter, how many would have abandoned Me if they had not been crucified. The cross is a gift too precious, and from it come many virtues."
I prayed then to Jesus that He would not concede to me any grace except that of loving Him very much, and Jesus said: "Oh soul dear to me, if you truly love Me, behold My chalice; you can drink it to the last drop. On this chalice I have placed My lips, and I want you to drink it." I told Jesus to do with me as He would. And then He said to me: "I have sent this cross to you, you do not appreciate it; rather it is contrary to your desire, but the more it is contrary, the more it is like Mine. Would it not seem to you a dreadful thing to see a father in the midst of sorrow and the children enjoying them*selves? When I shall be your Spouse of blood, I will come to you, but crucified; show your love to me as I have shown it toward you, and do you know how? By suffering, pains, and crosses without number. You ought, therefore, to consider yourself honored, if I lead you on paths hard and painful; if I permit that you be tormented by the demon, that the world despise you, that persons most dear to you afflict you, and with daily martyrdom, I permit your soul to be purified and tested. And you, daughter, think only of practicing great virtue; run in the path of the Divine Will, humbled, assured, that if I hold you to the cross, I love you."
I prayed then to Jesus that He would not concede to me any grace except that of loving Him very much, and Jesus said: "Oh soul dear to me, if you truly love Me, behold My chalice; you can drink it to the last drop. On this chalice I have placed My lips, and I want you to drink it." I told Jesus to do with me as He would. And then He said to me: "I have sent this cross to you, you do not appreciate it; rather it is contrary to your desire, but the more it is contrary, the more it is like Mine. Would it not seem to you a dreadful thing to see a father in the midst of sorrow and the children enjoying them*selves? When I shall be your Spouse of blood, I will come to you, but crucified; show your love to me as I have shown it toward you, and do you know how? By suffering, pains, and crosses without number. You ought, therefore, to consider yourself honored, if I lead you on paths hard and painful; if I permit that you be tormented by the demon, that the world despise you, that persons most dear to you afflict you, and with daily martyrdom, I permit your soul to be purified and tested. And you, daughter, think only of practicing great virtue; run in the path of the Divine Will, humbled, assured, that if I hold you to the cross, I love you."
2009/08/26
Prayer to Our Lady
"prayer to the Queen of Heaven in thanksgiving for my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, on June 27th, 2009"
I. Mother, this day is a secret.
See how well I hide it.
I walk through these streets,
see how ordinary I look.
People pass me by,
they do not suspect...the world does not know.
sun turns to twilight, the clock ticks,
with every step I come closer.
only a little further...
there is the steeple, the cross...
the familiar little church.
There is my Love hidden.
Do you hear my heart beating?
there You wait for me,
ready to take my heart.
O You have captured me!
I open the door...
II. O Mother, dare I say these words.
You see all the Angels listen.
the court of Heaven is silent.
I have only but a moment,
I dare not hesitate.
O Holy Angels, help me!
The Queen of Heaven is my Mother
and I come poor, dressed in rags.
how poor is my heart.
My Jesus, does this please You?
Oh, tell me, please speak!
III. lovely Lady,
I see your beauty and I'm speechless.
I see your purity and I'm dust.
You have a crown of stars like diamonds,
and the moon is under your feet.
O cover me with your mantle
Your Heart is radiant,
let all darkness flee.
see how fearful I am.
The enemy of my soul pursues me
he is almost at the door,
he taunts me with my sin.
this day is like no other,
and I have no courage.
Let me only say your name,
and I will live.
Oh Mary, Mary!
How lovely is your name,
I will spell it out with jewels,
I will sing it with the Angels.
You fill my heart with joy.
IV. Blessed Mother, receive these roses,
formed in the depths of my heart.
each rose, a Hail Mary.
Fervently I prayed them,
to proclaim you Blessed.
they are not like the roses of the Saints.
their fragrance less heavenly,
their colours less brilliant,
and they barely resemble roses at all.
they grew in a dark valley,
far from the sun.
I carried them here with the utmost care,
yet - how I wish to give you a greater gift!
V. Oh Mary, what sweetness!
raise me from the ground,
hold me trembling to your heart,
speak tenderly to me.
I look into your eyes,
and forget the things of earth.
Jesus,
Your love is my priceless treasure, my bliss.
Kind, gentle Mother,
how long must I wait?
I. Mother, this day is a secret.
See how well I hide it.
I walk through these streets,
see how ordinary I look.
People pass me by,
they do not suspect...the world does not know.
sun turns to twilight, the clock ticks,
with every step I come closer.
only a little further...
there is the steeple, the cross...
the familiar little church.
There is my Love hidden.
Do you hear my heart beating?
there You wait for me,
ready to take my heart.
O You have captured me!
I open the door...
II. O Mother, dare I say these words.
You see all the Angels listen.
the court of Heaven is silent.
I have only but a moment,
I dare not hesitate.
O Holy Angels, help me!
The Queen of Heaven is my Mother
and I come poor, dressed in rags.
how poor is my heart.
My Jesus, does this please You?
Oh, tell me, please speak!
III. lovely Lady,
I see your beauty and I'm speechless.
I see your purity and I'm dust.
You have a crown of stars like diamonds,
and the moon is under your feet.
O cover me with your mantle
Your Heart is radiant,
let all darkness flee.
see how fearful I am.
The enemy of my soul pursues me
he is almost at the door,
he taunts me with my sin.
this day is like no other,
and I have no courage.
Let me only say your name,
and I will live.
Oh Mary, Mary!
How lovely is your name,
I will spell it out with jewels,
I will sing it with the Angels.
You fill my heart with joy.
IV. Blessed Mother, receive these roses,
formed in the depths of my heart.
each rose, a Hail Mary.
Fervently I prayed them,
to proclaim you Blessed.
they are not like the roses of the Saints.
their fragrance less heavenly,
their colours less brilliant,
and they barely resemble roses at all.
they grew in a dark valley,
far from the sun.
I carried them here with the utmost care,
yet - how I wish to give you a greater gift!
V. Oh Mary, what sweetness!
raise me from the ground,
hold me trembling to your heart,
speak tenderly to me.
I look into your eyes,
and forget the things of earth.
Jesus,
Your love is my priceless treasure, my bliss.
Kind, gentle Mother,
how long must I wait?
2009/08/24
St Teresa of Avila
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away;
God is unchanging.
Patience obtains everything
Whoever possesses God,
Wants for nothing;
God alone suffices.
Christ has no body on earth now but yours;
no hands but yours;
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away;
God is unchanging.
Patience obtains everything
Whoever possesses God,
Wants for nothing;
God alone suffices.
Christ has no body on earth now but yours;
no hands but yours;
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.
2008/12/27
let me never forget You
"To encounter but once the Heart of the Lord Jesus is to never forget Him, and to be forevermore taken by love of this sweet Redeemer. Yet many will not allow their hearts to be conquered by the good Jesus because they fear the cost of being in love with Him; they fear the sacrifices that it would entail. For this reason it is necessary to have a pure heart...a heart detached from pride and from the world, so that nothing might keep one from surrendering to the love of Jesus. For it does hold one captive--this love--, yet whoever surrenders to it would never wish to be freed from its chains."~St. Faustina
2008/12/14
Maxims for the Direction of a Soul that Desires to Obtain Perfection in the Love of Jesus Christ
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
1. To desire ardently to increase in the love of Jesus Christ.
2. Often to make acts of love towards Jesus Christ. Immediately on waking, and before going to sleep, to make an act of love, seeking always to unite your own will to the will of Jesus Christ.
3. Often to meditate on his Passion.
4. Always to ask Jesus Christ for his love.
5. To communicate often, and many times in the day to make spiritual Communions.
6. Often to visit the Most Holy Sacrament.
7. Every morning to receive from the hands of Jesus Christ himself your own cross.
8. To desire Paradise and death, in order to be able to love Jesus Christ perfectly and for all eternity.
9. Often to speak of the love of Jesus Christ.
10. To accept contradictions for the sake of Jesus Christ.
11. To rejoice in the happiness of God.
12. To do that which is most pleasing to Jesus Christ, and not to refuse him anything that is agreeable to him.
13. To desire and to endeavor that all should love Jesus Christ.
14. To pray always for sinners and for the souls in purgatory.
15. To drive from your heart every affection that does not belong to Jesus Christ.
16. Always to have recourse to the most holy Mary, that she may obtain for us the love of Jesus Christ.
17. To honor Mary in order to please Jesus Christ.
18. To seek to please Jesus Christ in all your actions.
19. To offer yourself to Jesus Christ to suffer any pain for his love.
20 To be always determined to die rather than commit a willful venial sin.
21. To suffer crosses patiently, saying, "Thus it pleases Jesus Christ."
22. To renounce your own pleasures for the love of Jesus Christ.
23. To pray as much as possible.
24. To practice all the mortifications that obedience permits.
25. To do all your spiritual exercises as if it were for the last time.
26. To persevere in good works in the time of aridity.
27. Not to do nor yet to leave undone anything through human respect.
28. Not to complain in sickness.
29. To love solitude, to be able to converse alone with Jesus Christ.
30. To drive away melancholy.
37. Often to recommend yourself to those persons who love Jesus Christ.
32. In temptation, to have recourse to Jesus crucified, and to Mary in her sorrows.
33. To trust entirely in the Passion of Jesus Christ.
34. After committing a fault, not to be discouraged, but to repent and resolve to amend.
35. To do good to those who do evil.
36. To speak well of all, and to excuse the intention when you cannot defend the action.
37. To help your neighbor as much as you can.
38. Neither to say nor to do anything that might vex him. And if you have been wanting in charity, to ask his pardon and speak kindly to him.
39. Always to speak with mildness and in a low tone.
40. To offer to Jesus Christ all the contempt and persecution that you meet with.
41. To look upon [religious] Superiors as the representatives of Jesus Christ.
42. To obey without answering and without repugnance, and not to seek your own satisfaction in anything.
43. To like the lowest employments.
44. To like the poorest things.
45. Not to speak either good or evil of yourself.
46. To humble yourself even towards inferiors.
47. Not to excuse yourself when you are reproved.
48. Not to defend yourself when found fault with.
49. To be silent when you are disquieted.
50. Always to renew your determination of becoming a saint, saying, "My Jesus, I desire to be all Yours, and You must be all mine."
1. To desire ardently to increase in the love of Jesus Christ.
2. Often to make acts of love towards Jesus Christ. Immediately on waking, and before going to sleep, to make an act of love, seeking always to unite your own will to the will of Jesus Christ.
3. Often to meditate on his Passion.
4. Always to ask Jesus Christ for his love.
5. To communicate often, and many times in the day to make spiritual Communions.
6. Often to visit the Most Holy Sacrament.
7. Every morning to receive from the hands of Jesus Christ himself your own cross.
8. To desire Paradise and death, in order to be able to love Jesus Christ perfectly and for all eternity.
9. Often to speak of the love of Jesus Christ.
10. To accept contradictions for the sake of Jesus Christ.
11. To rejoice in the happiness of God.
12. To do that which is most pleasing to Jesus Christ, and not to refuse him anything that is agreeable to him.
13. To desire and to endeavor that all should love Jesus Christ.
14. To pray always for sinners and for the souls in purgatory.
15. To drive from your heart every affection that does not belong to Jesus Christ.
16. Always to have recourse to the most holy Mary, that she may obtain for us the love of Jesus Christ.
17. To honor Mary in order to please Jesus Christ.
18. To seek to please Jesus Christ in all your actions.
19. To offer yourself to Jesus Christ to suffer any pain for his love.
20 To be always determined to die rather than commit a willful venial sin.
21. To suffer crosses patiently, saying, "Thus it pleases Jesus Christ."
22. To renounce your own pleasures for the love of Jesus Christ.
23. To pray as much as possible.
24. To practice all the mortifications that obedience permits.
25. To do all your spiritual exercises as if it were for the last time.
26. To persevere in good works in the time of aridity.
27. Not to do nor yet to leave undone anything through human respect.
28. Not to complain in sickness.
29. To love solitude, to be able to converse alone with Jesus Christ.
30. To drive away melancholy.
37. Often to recommend yourself to those persons who love Jesus Christ.
32. In temptation, to have recourse to Jesus crucified, and to Mary in her sorrows.
33. To trust entirely in the Passion of Jesus Christ.
34. After committing a fault, not to be discouraged, but to repent and resolve to amend.
35. To do good to those who do evil.
36. To speak well of all, and to excuse the intention when you cannot defend the action.
37. To help your neighbor as much as you can.
38. Neither to say nor to do anything that might vex him. And if you have been wanting in charity, to ask his pardon and speak kindly to him.
39. Always to speak with mildness and in a low tone.
40. To offer to Jesus Christ all the contempt and persecution that you meet with.
41. To look upon [religious] Superiors as the representatives of Jesus Christ.
42. To obey without answering and without repugnance, and not to seek your own satisfaction in anything.
43. To like the lowest employments.
44. To like the poorest things.
45. Not to speak either good or evil of yourself.
46. To humble yourself even towards inferiors.
47. Not to excuse yourself when you are reproved.
48. Not to defend yourself when found fault with.
49. To be silent when you are disquieted.
50. Always to renew your determination of becoming a saint, saying, "My Jesus, I desire to be all Yours, and You must be all mine."
2008/12/12
the value of suffering
One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realising it. And at the end of the roads there was a horrible precipice; that is the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings.
(Divine Mercy in My Soul, St Faustina)
(Divine Mercy in My Soul, St Faustina)
2008/12/07
some good quotes from 'the Imitation of Christ'
He who finds Jesus finds a rare treasure, indeed, a good above every good, whereas he who loses Him loses more than the whole world. The man who lives without Jesus is the poorest of the poor, whereas no one is so rich as the man who lives in His grace.
Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.
You must bring to God a clean and open heart if you wish to attend and see how sweet the Lord is.
When the grace of God comes to a man he can do all things, but when it leaves him he becomes poor and weak, abandoned, as it were, to affliction. Yet, in this condition he should not become dejected or despair. On the contrary, he should calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls him in praise of Jesus Christ, for after winter comes summer, after night, the day, and after the storm, a great calm.
Choose the opposition of the whole world rather than offend Jesus. Of all those who are dear to you, let Him be your special love. Let all things be loved for the sake of Jesus, but Jesus for His own sake.
You must bring to God a clean and open heart if you wish to attend and see how sweet the Lord is.
When the grace of God comes to a man he can do all things, but when it leaves him he becomes poor and weak, abandoned, as it were, to affliction. Yet, in this condition he should not become dejected or despair. On the contrary, he should calmly await the will of God and bear whatever befalls him in praise of Jesus Christ, for after winter comes summer, after night, the day, and after the storm, a great calm.
someone shared this with me..
The most beautiful heart
One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heartin the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or flaw in it. Yes. they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart
Suddenly,an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said,"Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly,but full of scars,it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in,but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact,in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.The people stared--how can he say his heart is more beautiful,they thought?
The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed."You must be joking,"he said."Compare your heart with mine,mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."Yes," said the old man,"yours is perfect looking but i would never trade with you.You see,every scar represents a person to whom i have given my love,I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them,and often they give me a piece of theirheart which fits into the empty place in my heart,but because the pieces aren't exact,I have some rough edges, which i cherish,because they remind me of the love we shared.Sometimes i have given pieces of my heart away,and the other person hasn't returned apiece of his heart to me.
These are the empty gouges--giving love is taking a chance.Although these gouges are painful,they stay open,reminding me of the love i have for thesepeople too,and i hope someday they may return and fill the space i have waiting.So now do you see what true beauty is?"The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks.He walked up to the old man,reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart,and ripped a piece out.He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.
The old man took his offering,placed it in his heart and then took a piece from hisold scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart.It fit, but not perfectly,as there were some jagged edges.The young man looked at his heart,not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever,since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.They embraced and walked away side by side.
Author unknown.
One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heartin the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or flaw in it. Yes. they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart
Suddenly,an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said,"Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly,but full of scars,it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in,but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact,in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.The people stared--how can he say his heart is more beautiful,they thought?
The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed."You must be joking,"he said."Compare your heart with mine,mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."Yes," said the old man,"yours is perfect looking but i would never trade with you.You see,every scar represents a person to whom i have given my love,I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them,and often they give me a piece of theirheart which fits into the empty place in my heart,but because the pieces aren't exact,I have some rough edges, which i cherish,because they remind me of the love we shared.Sometimes i have given pieces of my heart away,and the other person hasn't returned apiece of his heart to me.
These are the empty gouges--giving love is taking a chance.Although these gouges are painful,they stay open,reminding me of the love i have for thesepeople too,and i hope someday they may return and fill the space i have waiting.So now do you see what true beauty is?"The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks.He walked up to the old man,reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart,and ripped a piece out.He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.
The old man took his offering,placed it in his heart and then took a piece from hisold scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart.It fit, but not perfectly,as there were some jagged edges.The young man looked at his heart,not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever,since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.They embraced and walked away side by side.
Author unknown.
feast of the Immaculate Conception
Mary, I love you. Mary, make me live in God, with God, and for God. Draw me after you, holy mother. O Mary, may your children persevere in loving you Mary, Mother of God and mother of mercy, pray for me and for the departed. Mary, holy Mother of God, be our helper. In every difficulty and distress, come to our aid, O Mary. O Queen of Heaven, lead us to eternal life with God. Mother of God, remember me, and ahelp me always to remember you. O Mary, conceived without sin,pray for us who have recourse to you.Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.
(St Philip Neri)
Most Holy Mary Virgin Mother of God, I am unworthy to be your servant. Yet moved by your motherly care for me and longing to serve you, I choose you this day to be my Queen, my Advocate, and my Mother. I firmly resolve ever to be devoted to you and to do what I can to encourage others to be devoted to you.My loving Mother, through the Precious Blood of your Son shed for me, I beg you to receive me as your servant forever. Aid me in my actions and beg for me the grace never by thought, word, or deed to be displesing in your sight and that of your most holy Son. Remember me, dearest Mother, and do not abandon me at the hour of death.
(St Francis de Sales)
My powerful Queen, you are all mine through your mercy,and I am all yours. Take away from me all that may displease God and cultivate in me all that is pleasing to him. May the light of your faith dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humilitytake the place of my pride, your continual sight of God fill my memory with his presence. May the first of the love of your heart inflame the lukewarmness of my own heart. May your virtues take the place of my sins. May your merits be my enrichment and make up for all that is wanting in me before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and his divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord,that I may love God with burning love like yours. Amen.
(St Louis de Montfort)
Virgin full of grace, I know that at Nazareth you lived modestly,without requesting anything more. Neither ecstasies, nor miracles, nor other extra ordinary deeds enhanced your life, O Queen of the elect. The number of the lowly, “the little ones,” is very great on earth. They can raise their eyes to your without any fear. You are the incomparable Mother who walks with them along the common way to guide them to heaven. Beloved Mother, in this harsh exile, I want to live always with youand follow you every day. I am enraptured by the contemplation of you and I discover the depths of the love of your heart. All my fears vanish under your motherly gaze, which teaches me to weep and to rejoice! Amen.
(St Therese of Lisieux)
Grant me, O Mary, that I may get to know the cross; not only Jesus’ cross, but whatever cross fits me best. (St Gemma Galgani)
Give us a heart as beautiful, pure, and spotless as yours. A heart like yours, so full of love and humility. May we be able to receive Jesus as the Bread of Life, to love him as you loved him, to serve him under the mistreated face of the poor. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Mother Teresa)
May the life of Blessed Mary be ever present to our awareness. In her, as in a mirror, the form of virtue and beauty of chastity shrine forth. She was virgin, not only in body, but in mind and spirit. She never sullied the pure affection of her heart by unworthy feelings. She was humble of heart. She was serious in her conversations. She was prudent in her counsels. She was preferred to pray rather than to speak. She united in her heart the prayers of the poor And avoided the uncertainty of worldly riches. She was ever faithful to hr daily duties, Reserved in her conversations, and always accustomed to recognize God as the Witness of her thoughts. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Amen (St Ambrose)
We honor you, O Mary, Mother of God, treasure of the universe, inextinguishable flame, crown of virginity, scepter of the true faith, indestructible temple, Tabernacle of the one whom the world cannot contain, and Mother and Virgin. ...In your virginal wombyou enclosed the immense andincomprehensible One. Through you the Trinity is glorifiedand the cross is celebrated and adoredeverywhere on earth. Through youthe heavens exult with joy,the angels and archangels are glad, demons are put to flight, the demon tempter is cast out of heaven, and our fallen nature has againbeen assumed into heaven. ...It is through you that the only-begotten Son of God, who is the Light, shone amid the nationswho were seated in darkness and the shadow of death. What human voice can ever worthily celebrate the ineffable greatness of Mary? She is Mother and Virginat the same time. Through herpeace has been restored to the world.What peace?Our Lord Jesus Christ,whom Mary has brought forth! (St Cyril of Alexandria)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,that never was it knownthat anyone who fled to your protection,implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O virgins of virgins, my Mother.To you I come, before you I stand, sinful an sorrowful.O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
(St Philip Neri)
Most Holy Mary Virgin Mother of God, I am unworthy to be your servant. Yet moved by your motherly care for me and longing to serve you, I choose you this day to be my Queen, my Advocate, and my Mother. I firmly resolve ever to be devoted to you and to do what I can to encourage others to be devoted to you.My loving Mother, through the Precious Blood of your Son shed for me, I beg you to receive me as your servant forever. Aid me in my actions and beg for me the grace never by thought, word, or deed to be displesing in your sight and that of your most holy Son. Remember me, dearest Mother, and do not abandon me at the hour of death.
(St Francis de Sales)
My powerful Queen, you are all mine through your mercy,and I am all yours. Take away from me all that may displease God and cultivate in me all that is pleasing to him. May the light of your faith dispel the darkness of my mind, your deep humilitytake the place of my pride, your continual sight of God fill my memory with his presence. May the first of the love of your heart inflame the lukewarmness of my own heart. May your virtues take the place of my sins. May your merits be my enrichment and make up for all that is wanting in me before God. My beloved Mother, grant that I may have no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and his divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord,that I may love God with burning love like yours. Amen.
(St Louis de Montfort)
Virgin full of grace, I know that at Nazareth you lived modestly,without requesting anything more. Neither ecstasies, nor miracles, nor other extra ordinary deeds enhanced your life, O Queen of the elect. The number of the lowly, “the little ones,” is very great on earth. They can raise their eyes to your without any fear. You are the incomparable Mother who walks with them along the common way to guide them to heaven. Beloved Mother, in this harsh exile, I want to live always with youand follow you every day. I am enraptured by the contemplation of you and I discover the depths of the love of your heart. All my fears vanish under your motherly gaze, which teaches me to weep and to rejoice! Amen.
(St Therese of Lisieux)
Grant me, O Mary, that I may get to know the cross; not only Jesus’ cross, but whatever cross fits me best. (St Gemma Galgani)
Give us a heart as beautiful, pure, and spotless as yours. A heart like yours, so full of love and humility. May we be able to receive Jesus as the Bread of Life, to love him as you loved him, to serve him under the mistreated face of the poor. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Mother Teresa)
May the life of Blessed Mary be ever present to our awareness. In her, as in a mirror, the form of virtue and beauty of chastity shrine forth. She was virgin, not only in body, but in mind and spirit. She never sullied the pure affection of her heart by unworthy feelings. She was humble of heart. She was serious in her conversations. She was prudent in her counsels. She was preferred to pray rather than to speak. She united in her heart the prayers of the poor And avoided the uncertainty of worldly riches. She was ever faithful to hr daily duties, Reserved in her conversations, and always accustomed to recognize God as the Witness of her thoughts. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Amen (St Ambrose)
We honor you, O Mary, Mother of God, treasure of the universe, inextinguishable flame, crown of virginity, scepter of the true faith, indestructible temple, Tabernacle of the one whom the world cannot contain, and Mother and Virgin. ...In your virginal wombyou enclosed the immense andincomprehensible One. Through you the Trinity is glorifiedand the cross is celebrated and adoredeverywhere on earth. Through youthe heavens exult with joy,the angels and archangels are glad, demons are put to flight, the demon tempter is cast out of heaven, and our fallen nature has againbeen assumed into heaven. ...It is through you that the only-begotten Son of God, who is the Light, shone amid the nationswho were seated in darkness and the shadow of death. What human voice can ever worthily celebrate the ineffable greatness of Mary? She is Mother and Virginat the same time. Through herpeace has been restored to the world.What peace?Our Lord Jesus Christ,whom Mary has brought forth! (St Cyril of Alexandria)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,that never was it knownthat anyone who fled to your protection,implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O virgins of virgins, my Mother.To you I come, before you I stand, sinful an sorrowful.O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
2008/12/06
St Therese, Story of a Soul, Chapter 2
"that same evening, when the sun appeared to be sinking into the vast stretch of the waters beyond a golden path of light, I went with you to sit upon a lonely rock. I gazed for ages on this path of light, and you said it was an image of the path to Heaven when grace lights up the way.Then I thought of my heart as a tiny ship with white and graceful sails gliding down the middle of a path of gold, and I resolved that I would never sail it out of sight of Jesus, so that it might voyage switfly and in peace toward the shores of Heaven".
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